Argosy, September 1955 — page 104: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

102 ROWAN AYERS There was something about his manner and authority that quashed any further show of resistance. The little man smiled and gave a furtive wink. ‘“ And another thing,” Brew went on after a suitably impres- ~ sive silence, “while you’re aboard of us, you’ll do as we say, and you'll fall in with the routine, just as I tell you to, and I don’t want no clever arguments.”’ Michael ducked back into the wheelhouse, acutely embarrassed. And yet he couldn’t disguise his new and sudden feeling of pride in his ship; it was as if it had become, in the past quarter of an hour, something entirely new, an efficient, well-disciplined unit ef a powerful flotilla. He felt, too, some of his old authority returning. ‘“ Leading Seaman White,” he said to the helmsman, suddenly eatching some of the old flavour, “ tell Petty Officer Brewis that both watches of the hands will fall in in five minutes’ time. On the foc’sle.”. ‘This was, of course, scarcely meant to be taken seriously. ~ ‘“ Ay, ay, sir,”’ said Knocker, without question, and for a moment left the wheel to pass on the message. “Petty Officer Brewis,” called Knocker, in a loud, penetrat- ing voice, ‘‘ both watches of the ’ands will get fell in in five minutes’ time, on the foc’sle.”’ As he came back to the wheel, Knocker gave Michael a large, strictly unofficial wink. ‘‘ We’ll teach that crowd a fing or two,” he said. What happened in the next five minutes, Michael preferred not to know. But the outcome was astonishing. A piercing, inhuman whistle, as from some frenzied jet engine, followed by Brew’s unbelievably loud and ferocious voice, ~ heralded another phase in this chapter of naval piracy. ‘* Both watches of the ’ands,”’ came the voice above the noise of the engines and the sea, ‘“ get fell in on the foc’sle.” He repeated the command, and added, as if it could ever be in dispute, ‘‘ At the double! ”’ There was a moment of hesitation, a crescendo of grumbling resentment, and then, from somewhere aft, came the rumble of feet on iron decks. Past the wheelhouse, the nine bewildered, protesting passengers came stumbling in ragged single file. ‘* Look sharp there! ’’ bawled Brewis, as the large woman tried bravely to break into a trot. Beside her, Michael noticed, the small, thin man was grinning—if a little uncertainly. Knocker, without betraying any signs of emotion, eased back the throttles, and the Sz/ver Streak began to slow down, her long foredeck returning to a slighter, more habitable angle. COMUICOOkKS.COL,